30 Seconds To Mars Visits China For New Video

Rock act 30 Seconds To Mars has completed work on what is purportedly the first American rock video ever shot in its entirety in the People's Republic of China.

Rock act 30 Seconds To Mars has completed work on what is purportedly the first American rock video ever shot in its entirety in the People's Republic of China. The clip, "From Yesterday," will premiere Monday (Nov. 20) as part of a behind-the-scenes special on MTV2. An extended film version of the video will air immediately afterward.

Frontman Jared Leto was behind the camera for "From Yesterday," under the guise of his alter-ego, Bartholomew Cubbins. The video was shot in the Forbidden City and the Emperor Qin palace. More than 300 extras were employed for the shoot, inspired by ancient Chinese empires and martial arts.

30 Seconds To Mars was previously recognized for its video concepts when it won the MTV2 Award for the Leto-directed clip for "The Kill" at this summer's MTV Video Music Awards. Last month, it won an mtvU Woodie award for best live action video.

"From Yesterday" and "The Kill" are drawn from the band's latest Virgin album, "A Beautiful Lie," which met with only lukewarm success upon its initial Aug. 2005 release but has been resurrected in the past six months. It has now sold 484,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"It takes a lot to believe in a world of nonbelievers and to be in a position to break through stereotypes -- to be able to walk in a place where people said was not possible," Leto told Billboard in August. "In our way, we've gone to the moon and all the nonbelievers are welcome to join us."

As previously reported, the band is in the midst of an MTV2 $2 Bill tour and will regroup early next year as part of the Taste of Chaos outing with the Used.